Loom detector mechanism



June 1951 F. F. DONOGHUE 2,556,136

LOOM DETECTOR uscnmsu Filed Feb. 28. 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M 31 INVENTOR. 23 -I.'F12HNCY. SDON06HUE June 1951 F. F. DONOGHUE 2,556,136

LOOM nswsc'roa uacnmsu Fil ed Feb. 28, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 KNOCK OFF MAGNET am WW iNVENTOR. F? FRANCIS .DONOGHUE Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE LOOM DETECTOR MECHANISM Florence Francis Donoghue, Worcester, Mass,

assignor to, Draper, Corporation,

Hopedale,

This invention relates to looms for weaving, and more particularly to a detector mechanism for looms employing a shuttle for laying weft in the shed.

In constructing looms of the type employing an oscillatory lay on which is traversed a shuttle supporting a filling carrying bobbin, it is common practice to utilize a filling detector mechanism to periodically determine the sufiiciency of the filling supply and to actuate means for initiating replenishment of the filling supply when exhaustion of that on the operating bobbin becomes incipient. It further has been proposed to provide means to disable the filling detector on those filling detecting movements of the shuttle occurring when the shuttle is not properly positioned in the shuttle box for accurate registry and cooperation with the filling detector, to prevent issuance of a false call for filling replenishment. While the mentioned structures or means have functioned in a. generally satisfactory manner for performance of their intended functions, I have found that by the addition of simple means those structures may be utilized in an entirely novel combination of elements to perform a new function, need for the performance of which arises in connection with exceptionally highspeed weaving operations. The new function is accomplished by the novel combination of elements without adversely affecting performance of the usual functions previously performed by the old elements of the combination.

It has been found that when a loom of the type referred to is operated at exceptionally high speeds there is introduced a possibility of cocurrence of a peculiarly accumulative error in the positioning of the shuttle, in the shuttle box. When this mis-positioning action commences it may disappear or may continue slight at first, but soon progressing or increasing in extent, the shuttle at successive picks becoming more out of optimum position until finally a pick is made of such weakness that the shuttle fails to exit from the shed, whereupon emergency loom-stopping, of a type known in the art as bang-off occurs. Bang-off or protective loom stops are effected with extreme suddenness, and result in severe and undesirable shock strains in the loom, often accompanied by breakage of loom parts. A much more desirable type of loom stopping is that occurring when one of the usual loom knock-01f devices initiates loom stopping, the latter then taking place relatively slowly during a longer interval of time. and hence producing no adverse .efiect on the loom mechanism.

9 Claims. 139283) In view of the above mentioned and other considerations, that will, hereinafter be made apparent, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a loom a detector mechanism that is effective to initiate ordinary knock-off loom stopping action upon commencement of anoccurrence of progressive mis-positioning of the shuttle in the shuttle box. It is another object of the invention to provide a loom detector mechanism capable of detecting incipience of filling exhaustion and, initiating action of filling; replenishing means, and capable of detecting mispositioning of a shuttle and initiating action of loom stopping means. It is another object of the invention to provide for a loom a detector mechanism cooperable with the filling carrying bobbin of a shuttle when, the latter is within a range of acceptable positions in its box to detect the, condition of the filling on the bobbin and to actuate means for initiating filling replenishment when filling exhaustion is incipient, and cooperable with the shuttle when the latter is outside said range of acceptable positions and is in a range of undesirable or unacceptable positions to actuate means for initiating loom stopping action, whereby the detector mechanism acts as a filling detector mechanism when the shuttle is properly positioned and as a shuttle position detector for initiating loom stoppage when the shuttle is not properly positioned. Another object of the invention is to provide means to detect commencement of a progressive or cumulative mispositioning of; a loom shuttle in a shuttle box and to initiate loom stoppage as a consequence of such detection, all prior to advancement of the condition to the stage where a protective or bang-off stop would. result.

The above and other objects which will hereinafter become apparent in view of my disclosure are attained by the invention, a preferred embodiment and a modified form of which are depicted in the accompanying drawings and described in connection therewith in the following description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a portion of a conventional loom shuttle box, shuttle, and filling bobbin, with a detector having means according to the invention, the latter being shown in an extreme filling detecting movement;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the arrangement of the structures when filling exhaustion has become incipient and an indication thereof has been given;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. but depicting 'any other conventional manner.

3 the positions of the structures when a mis-positioned shuttle has been detected and an indication thereof given;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and in the direction there indicated;

Fig. 5 is a partly schematic circuit diagram showing how structure according to the invention may be connected in a conventional electrical loom stop motion circuit;

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a modified form of the invention adaptable to looms employing mechanical rather than electrical, stop motions; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 6 and in the direction there indicated.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 4, there is depicted only so much of conventional loom structure as is necessary to a full understanding of the present invention. Included in the conventional structure shown in whole or in part is a shuttle box l into which a shuttle II carrying a bobbin |2 is receivable and from which it is ejected or picked, as well understood by those skilled in the loom art. Bobbin l2 carries wound thereon a supply of filling 13 in the form of thread or yarn which is drawn off the bobbin and used in making cloth as weaving proceeds, until final exhaustion of the supply becomes incipient. At the latter stage of the operations only the usual reserve bunch or winding l3 remains of the filling supply, as indicated in Fig. 2, at which time replenishment of the filling supply is desirable. Except as hereinafter pointed out, the shuttle may be of conventional form.

Cooperating with the bobbin and shuttle is a detector mechanism, which may, except in certain respects and details to be hereinafter more fully pointed out and explained, be like or similar to the comparable structure described and illustrated in U. 8. Patent No. 1,599,806 issued September 14. 1926, to L. H. Brown et al., and may be supported for cooperation with the bobbin in the fashion set out in the patent or in The detector mechanism includes a detector device I4 in the form of a blade formed principally of wire and which is confined and supported in a manner later herein explained by a support l5 comprising a base l6 and a cover l1. Base [6 is preferably of electrically conductive material and may conveniently be formed as a casting having a recess I8 (see Fig. 4) in its upper face in which recess device I4 is slidably accommodated for both longitudinal and lateral (side slipping) movements. Within recess l8 and a shallow recess l9 formed in the lower face of cover I! is a spring 20 which at one of its ends is anchored to a post 2| which may be formed as an integral part of base l6, the spring at its other end being looped around a kinked end detector mechanism and the filling contacts "2 device as the lay completes forward beats, as well known in the art. The sliding movements which are incidental to the filling detecting function of the device, each commence at the rest position, which is at a first or reaward extreme of longitudinal movement of the device, and terminate within a first range of positions but short of a second or forward extreme of longitudinal movement of the device. This second extreme of movement will be hereinafter more fully defined and explained. Positioned for actuation by device it in the event of sideslipping movement of the latter in consequence of detection of incipient exhaustion of the filling supply in the well known manner is a transmitter rod 25 which at one end rests loosely Within an aperture in the side of support i5 and terminates close to the longitudinal path of the shank of the device. Transmitter rod 25 is arranged to be axially translated to the right as indicated in Fig. 2 by device 54 when the latter sideslips, to initiate action leading to replenishment of the'filling supply in well known manner by conventional mechanism not forming part of the present invention. The sideslipping or lateral sliding motion of device I4 is induced by action of spring 29 tending to hold end 23 of the device in recess 24 while a denuded bobbin surface presses forwardly against the rear tip of the device, and occurs only when the rearwardly disposed tip is contacted by such a smooth denuded surface of the bobbin, as well understood in the art.

Operation of the structure thus far enumerated may be conventional, and as will hereinafter become evident, equivalent structure and operation may be employed in lieu of that described. In attaining the objects of the invention I provide means in the form of a serrated surface Ila on the forward surface of shuttle I 1 adjacent to the detector opening or eye H?) (see Fig. 3), which serrations are as indicated arranged for coaction with the tip of device !4 if, as the shuttle box moves forwardly, the shuttle therein received is not within a small range of normal or acceptable positions but has rebounded sufi'iciently to be mis positioned (as indicated in Fig. 3) within a range of abnormal and unacceptable positions. This latter range of positions will hereinafter be more fully defined and explained. For operation according to my invention I form the detector eye llb slightly shorter than is usual, the arrangement being substantially as indicated in the drawings. Thus if the shuttle is sufficiently mispositioned, the tip of device [4 will be contacted by the serrated surface Ila of the shuttle and the device will be moved longitudinally forwardly an abnormal extent (beyond the aforementioned first range of movement of the device) to the aforementioned second or forward extreme of movement of the device. This forward extreme of movement is defined as any position of the device wherein the latter has been moved beyond its normal range of detecting movements and into cooperative relationship with a means for indicating such movement of an abnormal extent and for initiating action of loom stopping means. For example, such cooperative relationship with a means for indicating the abnormal movement may be actual physical contact with an electrical contact or a mechanical plunger, as will hereinafter be explained. It will be evident that when device I4 is given such abnormal movement it is prevented from falsely indicating incipience of exhaustion of the filling, due to the serrations on the shuttle preventing lateral movement of the device, which may per se be well known. in the art. It is evident that when device it is contacted by the filling supply on a newly inserted bobbin in shuttle H, the device will be moved forwardly to a certain position which defines a limit for normal longitudinal filling detecting movements of the device, but that when the device is contacted by the serrated surface of the shuttle it will be moved forwardly an abnormal distance to a position somewhat forward of said limit of normal movements. Thus the device has two degrees of forward movement from the normal rest position, the first when it is moved by the filling on the bobbin and the second when it is moved by contact with the shuttle. Also the device is seen to partake of two different types of movements, the first a side-slipping (lateral) movement incident to indication of incipience of filling exhaustion, and the second being a longitudinal movement which may be of either a first or of a second degree as just explained. As a consequence of movement of the first type, device hi actuates transmitter rod 25 to initiate a filling replenishment action (bobbin changing, for example), whereas movement of the second type in the first degree merely is indicative of presence on the bobbin of an adequate filling supply and movement of the second type in the second degree indicates mispositioning of a shuttle out of a range of normal positions in the shuttle box and into a range of abnormal positions and results in actuation of a loom-stopping initiating means as will presently be explained. The abnormal range of positions of the shuttle in the shuttle box is defined as the range including only those positions of the shuttle in the shuttle box in which the shuttle is not so widely mis-positioned as to cause a protective or bang-off stoppage of the loom but is sufficiently mis-positioned to prevent proper registry between device M and that portion of the filling or bobbin normally to be engaged thereby.

By my invention I utilize movement of the second type in the second degree of device id in consequence of the shuttle being mispositioned in the mentioned abnormal range of positions, to initiate action of loom stopping structure whereby the loom may be brought to a gradual stop before a protective or bang-off stoppage would normally occur. This I accomplish, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, by positioning an actuatable structure so it will be contacted by device M upon the latter having imparted thereto movement of the mentioned second type in the second degree. The actuatable structure may be of either electrical or mechanical type, as will presently be made clear, and is of the electrical type in the principal preferred embodiment of the invention. In" the latter, and referring again to Figs. 1-4, an electrical contact 26 preferably in the form of a fiat bent spring is secured to the bottom surface of cover I! and in electrical isolation from base 55. Electrical isolation may conveniently be attained by an ordinary insulative bushing mounting or by forming cover ll of an electrically insulating material as depicted. In the illustrated embodiment, cover I! is of a transparent electric insulation such as one of the common forms of polymerized synthetic resins. Contact 25 is, as illustrated, of such form and so disposed that it will be contacted by device 14 and will press the latter firmly against base I6 when the device is moved forwardly beyond its range of normal filling detecting movements.

Thus an electrical circuit through any conventional electric loom stop motion may be arranged to be completed between base It. and contact 26 by device 14 when the latter engages the contact. To thatv end contact 26 is secured to and thereby electrically connected with an internally threaded conductive bushing 21, as by means of screw 28 and. its spring washer, the bushing extending through a hole formed in cover I1 and having. a head, below which may be clamped a terminal clip 28. A screw 3|] inserted in a tapped hole formed. in base [6 may serve to support a second terminal clip 3 l in electrical connection with the base. The two terminal clips may, via conductors 32, 33, be shunted across any conventional electrical loom detector device in any conventional loom electric stop motion circuit, whereby the latter may be rendered active by device. M to stop the loom. Such an arrangement is sche matically indicated in Fig. 5, wherein the terminal clips are connected by conductors 32, 33 to respective sides of the circuit of an electric warp stop motion of well known type including electrodes L and G connected in series with a knock oif magnet and a source of power supply in the form of a secondary winding of a power supply transformer T. Both the mechanical and the electrical characteristics of the electric warp stop motion per so are conventional and well known, and may be like or similar to those disclosed in U. S. patent to Regan, No. 1,832,580. Stop motions of that general type bring into operation mechanism which brings about a gradual stopping of the loom, as distinguished from a protective stop wherein loom motion is positively arrested at the lay and in a very short time.

From the above it will be perceived that as soon as one of the aforementioned progressive shuttle mispositioning actions or sequences gets fairly started, device [4 will be engaged by the serrated surface of the shuttle and given a second degree movement of the second type to a position in which its elbow closes the circuit between conductors 32 and 33, whereby the knock-off magnet is energized and the loom is brought to a gradual stop. That action occurs prior to onset of such irregular or weak shuttle picking that protective or bang-off stoppage becomes inevitable. Hence the novel combination of elements of the invention performs the function of anticipating bang-off stop conditions and initiates loom stopping action prior to actual materialization of those conditions.

Some looms are equipped with mechanical rather than with electrical, stop motions; and hence I have in accord with the broad objects and principles of my invention provided a modified type of structure arranged and adaptable for use with looms having mechanical stop motions wherein a, normally inactive latch member is movable into the path of an actuator for causing action of the loom stoppin mechanism. Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 wherein a preferred form of such modified type of structure according to the invention is shown, device l4 and spring 20 are arranged to operate in the same manner as in the electrical embodiment previously described, device [4 being subject to the same types and degrees of movements and being guided by a support comprisin a base 35 and a cover 36. The base and cover may both be of metal and may be in shape similar to previously described base l6 and cover I! except as hereinafter indicated. Device l4 acts when given a movement of the second type in the second degree to impart, via its elbow, movement to a wire core or plunger 3'! of a Bowden cable 38 which has one terminal plug 39 seated in a hole 40 formed in one end of the support as indicated in Fig. '7. The plug may be secured in the hole by means of a bushing M and screw 42 in an obvious manner to position one end of plunger or core 31 in the path of the elbow of device l4 when the latter is moved by a mispositioned shuttle. Movement of the core of the Bowden cable is utilized at the other end .of the cable to cause movement of a conventional spring or gravity stressed latch member ls into the path of an actuator 44 in a manner well known per se and fully explained in U. S, patent to Hoeber, No. 1,566,249. It will be understood that two Bowden cables, one to be actuated by device l4 and the other to be actuated by the warp stop motion may be employed to position the latch member into operative position, either being operative alone to so move the latch member.

From the above it will be seen that by the present invention means are provided for initiating'loom stoppage upon commencement of any progressive mispositioning of the shuttle and prior to onset of such irregular picking as would result in bang-01f stopping of the loom. It will be obvious that equivalent other electrical means of utilizing the indication given by device 14 of a mispositioned shuttle may be utilized, such as, for example, a capacitative coupling of elements by the device or means moved thereby, rather than actual electrical contact; and that other types of electrical connections may be employed. Similarly it is apparent that othertypes of mechanical connections may be employed, such as linkages. Further, while for convenience I have chosen to illustrate my invention in connection with one type of commercially available filling detector, the invention is equally applicable to other types and kinds of filling detectors. Accordingly I do not wish to be limited to the specific details of the physical embodiments described and illustrated, but what I claim as my invention is: a

1. For a filling replenishing loom having a loom stop motion, a detector for initiating filling replenishing and also for stopping the loom upon mispositioning the shuttle, which comprises a 7 member having a, single contact making tip and being movable upon engagement of the said tip with filling in the shuttle, to a position and in a pathway having no eifect on either the replen ishing or stopping functions, said member being movable in another pathway such that it initiates filling replenishment upon engagement of the tip with the filling supply holder in a shuttle from which filling has become exhausted, and said member being further movable in a difi'erent pathway upon engagement of the tip with a mispositioned shuttle to initiate loom stopping.

2. For a filling replenishing loom having a loom stop motion, a detector for initiating filling replenishing and also stopping of the loom upon mispositioning of the shuttle, which comprises a member having a single contact making tip and being movable throughout different extents of movement and different pathways,

said member being normally movable upon en-- gagement of said tip with filling in the shuttle, to a position and in a pathway having no efiect upon either the replenishing or stopping functions, said member further being movable to 'other positions and in other pathways in one engagement of its tip with the filling supply holder in a shuttle from which filling has become substantially exhausted, and in the other of which the member is differently movable to an extreme position for initiating loom stopping whenever the said tip engages the external portion of a mispositioned shuttle.

3. For a filling replenishing loom having a loom stop motion, a detector means comprising a casing, a feeler member a portion of which projects from said casing and resilient means normally urging said feeler member to a position in which it may project inwardly of a cooperating shuttle to sense the condition of a filling supply therein, said detector being further movable to difierent positions for initiating filling replenishing and also for initiating stopping of the loom upon mispositioning of the shuttle; means engageable by said feeler member as it is moved angularly against the resistance of said resilient means upon engagement with a shuttle bobbin from which the filling supply has become substantially exhausted for interconnecting the said feeler to bobbin replenishing means thereby to initiate the replenishing function, and other means. in the pathway of said feeler member as it is moved to a third position against said resilient means for affecting the loom stopping means thereby to stop the loom whenever the said feeler member fails to project inwardly of the shuttle to sense the condition of the filling therein, but does become engaged by the external portion of a shuttle which has failed to become properly boxed preparatory to its return fiight.

' 4-. For a filling replenishing loom having a shuttle in which is supported a filling carrying V bobbin, a feeler slotin said shuttle, bobbin changing means for replenishing a filling supply upon substantial exhaustion of filling at the said shuttle and a loom stop motion, a detector for initiating replenishment of the filling, said detector being movable to a different position for stopping the loom upon failure of the shuttle properly to box preparatory to a return flight, which comprises a feeler member positioned for entr into the-shuttle through the feeler slot therein and for sensing the condition of the fillingon the bobbin therein during normal operation of the loom, said feeler member being movable against a resilient means and within a normal pathway in which it has no effect upon the replenishing or stoppin functions, said feeler member being movable angularly and in a pathway such that it makes contact with and moves certain interconnecting means for efiecting the replenishing function whenever the said feeler member makes engagement with the bobbin surface within the shuttle from which filling has become substantially exhausted, said, member being further movable to a third position in which it makes no engagement with the replenishing means, but in which it makes contact with stopping devices for stopping the loom whenever the said feeler member fails to enter the said feeler slot in the shuttle, but engages the external portion of the shuttle which has failed to become properly boxed.

5. For a filling replenishing loom havin a loom stop motion, a detector means comprising a casing, a feeler member a portion of which projects from said casing and spring means normally urging said fe-eler member to a position in which it may project inwardly of a cooperating shuttle to sense the condition of a filling supply therein, but will not afiect meansfor initiating the replenishment of the filling or other means for effecting stopping of the loom, said detector being movable upon projection through the feeler slot and engagement with filling within the shuttle in an idle pathway in which it has no efiect on either the replenishing or stopping functions, said feeler member being so disposed with respect to said resilient means as to be angularly displaceable upon engagement with a supporting means on which the filling is car ried in the shuttle, an adjacent movable member positioned to be contacted by said angularly displaced feeler member and efiective upon such contact to initiate the replenishing of the filling, a contact means forming a part of an electrical circuit and engageable by said feeler member whenever that feeler member fails to enter the feeler slot in the shuttle, but does contact with an adjacent portion of the shuttle which has failed to become properly positioned preparatory to its return flight, said contact means and feeier servin to complete the circuit and initiate stopping of the loom.

6. For a filling replenishing loom having a lay, a loom stop motion and a shuttle having a feeler slot and a filling, carrying bobbin displaceably supported within the shuttle, said shuttle further having a roughened surface adjacent the feeler slot, a detector for initiating filling replenishing and also stopping of the loom upon failure of the shuttle to become properly positioned preparatory to its return flight, which comprises a casing and a feeler member supported in such position that upon forward beats of the shuttle supporting lay, the said feeler member normally enters the feeler slot and contacts the filling carried thereby, resilient means within the said detector casing and connected to said feeler member for urging it in a direction to engage the filling, a contact member forming a part of an electrical circuit interconnected to the loom stop motion and positioned beyond the range of movement of said feeler member during its normal operation which includes contact of the feeler member with filling carried by the bobbin or with the bobbin after the filling has become substantially exhausted therefrom, said contact member further being engageable by the feeler member for completing the circuit whenever the shuttle fails to become properly positioned preparatory to its return flight so that u the feeler member makes engagement with an external roughened portion of the shuttle adjacent the feeler slot therein.

'7. For a filling replenishing loom having a lay, a loom stop motion and a shuttle having a feeler slot and a filling carrying bobbin displaceably supported within the shuttle, said shuttle further having a roughened surface adjacent the feeler slot, a detector for initiating filling replenishing and also stopping of the loom upon failure of the shuttle to become properly positioned preparatory to its return fiight, which comprises a casing and a feeler member supported in such position that upon forward beats of the shuttle supporting lay, the said feeler member normally enters the feeler slot and contacts the filling carried thereby, resilient means Within the said detector casing and connected to said feeler member for urging it in a direction to engage the filling, a contact member forming part of linkage interconnecting the detector to the loom stop motion and positioned beyond the range of movement of said feeler member during its normal operation which includes contact of the feeler member with filling carried by the bobbin or with the bobbin after the filling has become substantially exhausted therefrom, said contact member further being engageable by the feeler member for tripping the stop motion whenever the shuttle fails to become properly positioned preparatory to its return flight so that the feeler member makes engagement with an external roughened portion of the shuttle ad- J'acent the feeler slot therein.

8. For a filling replenishing loom having a loom stop motion, a unitary detector means for initiating filling replenishing and also for stopping the loom upon mispositioning the shuttle, which comprises a single feeler means having a single contact making tip responsive upon sensing differently positioned and differently constituted surfaces, for initiating the said functions, said feeler means being so positioned and guided as normally to avoid contact with the shuttle and upon contact being made through said tip, to sense the presence or substantial exhaustion of filling within the shuttle, but further being effective upon a failure of the shuttle to become properly positioned preparatory to its return flight and when the said tip encounters the shuttle itself, to initiate stopping of the loom through the said stop motion.

9. For a filling replenishing loom having a shuttle with a changeable filling carrying bobbin and a feeler slot at one side, a loom stop motion and a detector means for initiating filling replenishing and also for stopping the loom upon mispositioning the shuttle, which comprises a feeler means aligned for entry into the shuttle feeler slot when the shuttle assumes a substantially normal position of rest at the end of its flight, but effective upon mispositioning of the shuttle for engaging the external surface thereof adjacent the feeler slot, and means affected by said feeler means as it contacts the external sur face of the shuttle for initiating stopping of the loom.

F. FRANCIS DONOGHUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,303,583 Osgood May 13, 1919 1,675,549 Hammett July 1928 2,166,071 McCann July 11, 1939 

